strong>San Francisco, CA (Law Firm Newswire) July 25, 2018 – A recent report found that nursing homes across the country are unnecessarily administering antipsychotic drugs to an estimated 179,000 residents each week. The medications are being given to elderly people who do not have medical conditions that require such drugs. The Human Rights Watch, which released the report, said staff at long-term care facilities often give the antipsychotic drugs without obtaining consent from the resident or their relatives. The powerful medications are intended to treat serious mental conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. However, the organization said they are […]

San Francisco, CA (Law Firm Newswire) May 15, 2018 – The AARP Foundation sued a nursing home in Sacramento, California, and its management company for evicting a resident with Alzheimer’s disease without warning. Gloria Single, 83, was a resident of Pioneer House until her sudden eviction in March 2017. According to court documents, the facility sent Single to the hospital without her family’s approval, alleging she threw plastic tableware and behaved aggressively with staff. The hospital found nothing wrong with Single after conducting a psychological assessment on her. She was cleared to return to Pioneer House immediately. However, management refused […]

San Francisco, CA (Law Firm Newswire) May 1, 2018 – A recent federal investigation revealed that more than 25 percent of serious cases involving the abuse of nursing home residents were not reported to law enforcement agencies. In addition, nursing homes failed to provide necessary medical care in incidents of physical abuse and sexual assault. The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General released an emergency alert that said 134 cases of potential abuse or neglect at nursing homes were found in 33 states. Illinois had the most cases at 17, while California had 13. Auditors examined […]

San Francisco, CA (Law Firm Newswire) February 15, 2018 – Scientists have developed artificial intelligence (AI) that can be trained to identify the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease nearly 10 years before symptoms begin to emerge. A research team from the University of Bari in Italy developed an algorithm that can detect structural changes linked to the disease in different areas of the brain. They trained an AI using 67 MRI scans from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative database at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Of those, 38 were from Alzheimer’s patients while 29 belonged to healthy […]

San Francisco, CA (Law Firm Newswire) January 29, 2018 – The Trump administration’s tax reform plan has left many individuals and families uncertain about its implications on their future. Gilfix & La Poll Associates is offering four free estate planning seminars that will cover key topics pertaining to the new tax law. These timely seminars are open to the public and will be held on February 20, 22 and 27 in California. Attorneys Michael Gilfix and Mark R. Gilfix will lead the seminars titled: “The New Trump Tax Reform and Your Tax and Estate Planning.” At the heart of their […]

San Francisco, CA (Law Firm Newswire) October 18, 2017 – A survey conducted earlier this year revealed that two-thirds of adults age 40 and older feel unprepared for their own long-term care and have done little or no planning for it. In addition, an increasing number of Americans believe Medicare should pay for it. The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research polled 1,341 older Americans nationwide about their views on current and future long-term care. Over 50 percent of survey respondents thought the government should take on a bigger role in helping people with long-term care expenses. In comparison […]

San Francisco, CA (Law Firm Newswire) September 22, 2017 – Gilfix & La Poll Associates is supporting the Alzheimer’s Association as an official sponsor of the 2017 Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Silicon Valley. Members of the Palo Alto, California-based estate planning law firm have also formed a team to participate in the event. “Alzheimer’s affects millions of people in the country. Any little bit we can do to help can go a long way in making a difference in the lives of those who are battling the disease,” said attorney Michael Gilfix. “Families, members of the community and participants […]

San Francisco, CA (Law Firm Newswire) August 31, 2017 – State and federal guidelines have been updated to improve diagnosis and care for patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The California Department of Public Health recently released new Alzheimer’s guidelines for the first time since 2008. The update reflects scientific progress, as well as changes in clinical practice and laws. The guidelines are designed to help doctors and other medical professionals document and diagnose the progressive disease more easily. They will also be able to direct patients to relevant community-based programs and services. “Alzheimer’s is a medical condition that is likely to […]

San Francisco, CA (Law Firm Newswire) August 21, 2017 – Nationally known attorney Michael Gilfix of Gilfix & La Poll Associates discusses the impact of President Donald Trump’s policies on the elderly population and individuals with disabilities in an article published recently in Trusts & Estates magazine. Titled “Trump Initiatives Affecting Vulnerable Populations,” the article provides an in-depth report and analysis of initiatives that are being ushered in by the new administration. Gilfix co-authored it with two other elder law and special needs planning attorneys for the July 2017 issue of the prestigious legal journal. “It is important for older […]

San Francisco, CA (Law Firm Newswire) May 17, 2017 – Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary David Shulkin is using the agency’s recent inability to fire an employee for misconduct to demonstrate why the lengthy process for disciplining problem workers needs to be changed. According to VA officials, an employee at the Michael DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston, Texas, was caught watching pornography while he was tending to a patient. The VA removed the unnamed employee from patient care and placed him on administrative duties. However, the worker could not be fired due to the nature of the […]

San Francisco, CA (Law Firm Newswire) May 05, 2017 – In the Trump era, families with special needs kids — autism, cerebral palsy, bipolar disorder, etc. — are deeply worried about the solvency and availability of vital government benefits. Proposals of the current administration and steps already taken will be “front and center” in this timely community event. Prominent attorneys from Gilfix and La Poll Associates will present the 13th Annual Special Needs Trust Seminar on Wednesday, May 10, 2017 in Palo Alto, California. The free event is designed to provide practical, up-to-date advice to family members of special needs […]

San Francisco, CA (Law Firm Newswire) April 26, 2017 – Nursing homes should implement better procedures for end-of-life directives, according to the results of a new study published in Health and Social Work. Past research has indicated that not only do advance directives help improve end-of-life care for nursing home residents but they also cut health care costs. “Advance directives honor an individual’s expressed wishes about health care. Every adult age 18 and over should sign an advance health care directive,” said estate planning attorney Mark Gilfix. “It is very important for families to discuss end-of-life wishes and health care […]

Moorestown, NJ (Law Firm Newswire) April 25, 2017 – The New Jersey Super Lawyers list designation is bestowed upon lawyers who have been judged to have extensive professional achievements, exemplary ethical standards, and are held in esteem by their peers. The process by which an attorney is selected as a Super Lawyer includes stringent peer nominations, evaluations, and research by third parties. Only five percent of attorneys are selected. Attorney Begley has been named a Super Lawyer annually since 2008. The continued Super Lawyer designation is a clear indication that the Begley Law Group, P.C., has the recognition of peers […]

Roseville, CA (Law Firm Newswire) March 27, 2017 – The majority of tax strategies focus on lowering federal income taxes because they make up the largest amount of taxes that someone could owe. However, in some states, income tax rates are considerably high, and can be a substantial addition to tax bills. One solution is to establish a trust in such a way that prevents it from being subject to state income tax. For the past 10 years, affluent individuals, families and their advisors have been using incomplete non-grantor (ING) trusts to reduce their exposure to state income taxes. The […]

Harrisburg, PA (Law Firm Newswire) March 16, 2017 – Marielle F. Hazen has been named a Lawyer of the Year for 2017 by Best Lawyers Pennsylvania magazine. Each year, Best Lawyers Pennsylvania highlights one attorney in a particular practice area and location to be named Lawyer of the Year. The award is significant because it is based on peer review, so the person named Lawyer of the Year must receive the highest votes from other attorneys in the area. “I am honored to be recognized by my peers in this way,” said Hazen. “I consider it a great privilege to […]

San Francisco, CA (Law Firm Newswire) March 3, 2017 – Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown approved legislation, which limits California’s estate recovery from low-income Medi-Cal recipients who are aged 55 to 64. The 2016-17 budget includes $30 million to curb the seizure of assets only to what is required under federal law, which is the cost of long-term care in nursing homes. The state previously sought repayment for virtually all Medi-Cal costs paid on the deceased person’s behalf. “The change in the law ensures individuals who go on Medi-Cal are no longer forced to choose between health care and being […]

San Francisco, CA (Law Firm Newswire) February 24, 2017 – Last year, President Obama signed a reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, renewing it for three years. The legislation provides funding for many services that are necessary for older adults to maintain their health and independence. It will enable millions of elderly to stay at home and in their communities during retirement. The reauthorization enhances the Act’s core programs by funding services such as job training, caregiver support, transportation, legal services and elder abuse protection. Elder abuse prevention training will be improved, along with the screening of individuals who work […]

New Orleans, LA (Law Firm Newswire) January 25, 2017 – A day-long intensive workshop on March 23, 2017 will reveal the secrets of effective online marketing for lawyers. The session, part of the Academy of Special Needs Planners’ 11th Annual Meeting in New Orleans, will be led by Victoria Fabiano of Google and Conrad Saam, founder of Mockingbird Marketing, an agency that delivers advanced online marketing exclusively for the legal industry. Attorneys, Saam says, are getting “intimidated, overcharged, confused and downright lied to by marketing consultants and self-proclaimed search gurus” who see dollar signs but deliver “little (if any) value.” […]

San Francisco, CA (Law Firm Newswire) January 20, 2017 – Estate planning involves countless complex rules that can change every year. It is important to ensure that estate planning documents take modifications into account and are up to date. Tax laws govern how people can make gifts during their lifetimes and transfer estate property to heirs tax-free up to a certain amount. In 2017, the lifetime gift and estate tax exclusion amount has increased by $40,000 from 2016 to adjust for inflation. This means each individual can protect up to $5.49 million from estate and gift tax. “Neglecting to actively […]

San Francisco, CA (Law Firm Newswire) November 15, 2016 – Many Americans approaching old age are unsure of their ability to pay for long term care, according to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research report. Misconceptions persist among the aging adult population about the ways in which long term care will be financed. Around one-third of individuals aged 40 and older have not planned for their future needs, whether it is saving for a nursing home or setting aside funds for in-home care. “Planning for long term care for yourself or a loved one is essential to ensuring […]